Coronavirus | Skilled Wound Care

CORONAVIRUS LEARNING CENTER

Guidelines on skilled nursing facility wound care rounds during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

UNDERSTANDING COVID-19

Where did the Coronavirus come from?, How does the COVID-19 virus infect and replicate? Dr. Bardia Anvar discusses the background of the Coronavirus and answers frequently asked questions.

COVID-19 IN THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

The SWC team is here to provide guidance for treating patients in Skilled Nursing Facilities during the COVID-19 crises. They are diving deep into the science of viruses and here to answer your questions about current safety protocols. Click here to view our full webinar series.

Hello from Birmingham! We made rounds today with members of our great team- including seeing some post Covid patients on a separate hall for 14 day Quarantine. The National Guard deep cleaned yesterday and all residents and staff were tested this week. All’s going well. Stay safe to everyone!

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How COVID-19 Spreads

There is much to learn about the COVID-19, including how it's contracted and how easily it spreads. Based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and what is known about other coronaviruses, the spread is thought to occur mostly from person to person via respiratory droplets among close contacts.

Close contact can occur while caring for a patient, including:

Being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a patient with COVID-19 for a prolonged period.
Having direct contact with infectious secretions from a patient with COVID-19. Infectious secretions may include sputum, serum, blood, and respiratory droplets.

STRICT REGULATIONS

Skilled Wound Care Physicians group will follow all the latest recommendations set forth by the Centers for Disease Control. SWC physicians will also follow all specific guidelines for each individual state health organization during the pandemic. SWC Physicians Group will coordinate with each skilled nursing facility individually to ensure all specific additional requirements will be followed.

PROPER SCREENING

Skilled Wound Care Physicians will follow all screening guidelines for healthcare workers prior to entry into nursing facilities, which include but are not limited to:

Questionnaires or surveys about recent travel or current health.
Temperature screening prior to entry.

SIGNS & SYMPTONS

If a Skilled Wound Care provider demonstrates any signs or symptoms related to the manifestation of the Coronavirus, the provider will not round.

SELF-QUARANTINE

If an SWC provider has exposure to individuals testing positive for COVID-19 then they will self-quarantine for the 14-day recommended period.

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

SWC providers will follow universal precautions when seeing all nursing facility patients.

TELEMEDICINE

Providers will be available via phone for any updates or needs for patient health.

HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF

Healthcare personnel caring for patients with confirmed or possible COVID-19 should adhere to CDC recommendations for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC):

Recommendations:

Assess and triage these patients with acute respiratory symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19 to minimize chances of exposure, including placing a facemask on the patient and isolating them in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR), if available.
Use Standard Precautions, Contact Precautions, and Airborne Precautions and eye protection when caring for patients with confirmed or possible COVID-19. (Note: Currently approved protective masks are in short supply).
Perform hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and upon removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gloves. Use soap and water if hands are visibly soiled.
Practice how to properly use PPE in a manner that prevents self-contamination.
Perform aerosol-generating procedures, including a collection of diagnostic respiratory specimens, in an AIIR, while following appropriate IPC practices, including the use of appropriate PPE.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection

Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures are appropriate for COVID-19 in health care settings, including those patient-care areas in which aerosol-generating procedures are performed.
Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are recommended for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Management of laundry, food service utensils and medical waste should also be performed strictly in accordance with routine procedures.

ACTION FOR SWC PROVIDERS IN CASE OF EXPOSURE OR SYMPTOMS

If you have an unprotected exposure (i.e., not wearing recommended PPE) to a confirmed or possible COVID-19 patient, contact your supervisor or occupational health immediately.
If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), do not report to work. Contact your occupational health services.

SWC’s mission includes improving as many lives as possible, delivering service in an innovative way, providing the best outcomes for all patients and stakeholders, and working as partners with nurses. SWC is continuing to serve patients and endeavors to be a critical resource for delivering patient care, especially during this pandemic.